Changers； which we see daily charged with plenty of gold and silver；
where we may take so much as wee list； for they （nor any） are able
to descrie us。 So； （in short time） shall wee all be wealthy； never
needing to drudge any more； or paint muddy walles； as hitherto we have
done； and； as many of our poore profession are forced to doe。
Bruno and Buffalmaco hearing this； began to smile； and looking
merily each on other； they seemed to wonder thereat； and greatly
commended the counsell of Calandrino。 Buffalmaco demaunding how the
stone was named。 Now it fortuned； that Calandrino （who had but a
grosse and blockish memory） had quite forgot the name of the stone；
and therefore said。 What neede have wee of the name； when we know； and
are assured of the stones vertue？ Let us make no more adoe； but
（setting aside all other businesse） goe seeke where it is to be found。
Well my friend （answered Bruno） you say wee may finde it； but how； and
by what meanes？
There are two sorts of them （quoth Calandrino） some bigge； others
smaller； but all carry a blacke colour： therefore （in mine opinion）
let us gather all such stones as are blacke； so shall we be sure to
finde it among them； without any further losse of time。
Buffalmaco and Bruno； liked and allowed the counsell of
Calandrino； which when they had （by severall commendations） given
him assurance of； Bruno saide。 I doe not thinke it a convenient time
now； for us to go about so weighty a businesse： for the Sun is yet
in the highest degree； and striketh such a heate on the plaine of
Mugnone； as all the stones are extreamly dryed； and the very
blackest will nowe seeme whitest。 But in the morning； after the dew is
falne； and before the Sunne shineth forth； every stone retaineth his
true colour。 Moreover； there be many Labourers now working on the
plaine； about such businesse as they are severally assigned； who
seeing us in so serious a serch： may imagine what we seeke for； and
partake with us in the same inquisition； by which meanes they may
chance to speed before us； and so wee may lose both our trot and
amble。 Wherefore； by my consent； if your opinion jumpe with mine； this
is an enterprize onely to be perfourmed in an early morning； when
the blacke stones are to be distinguisht from the white； and a
Festivall day were the best of all other； for then there will be
none to discover us。
Buffalmaco applauded the advice of Bruno； and Calandrino did no
lesse； concluding all together； that Sunday morning （next ensuing）
should be the time； and then they all three would go see the Stone。
But Calandrino was verie earnest with them； that they shold not
reveale it to any living body； because it was tolde him as an
especiall secret： disclosing further to them； what hee had heard
concerning the Countrey of Bengodi； maintaining （with solemn oaths and
protestations） that every part thereof was true。 Uppon this agreement；
they parted from Calandrino who hardly enjoyed anie rest at all；
either by night or day； so greedie he was to bee possessed of the
stone。 On the Sonday morning； hee called up his Companions before
breake of day； and going forth at S。 Galls Port； they stayed not； till
they came to the plaine of Mugnone； where they searched all about to
finde this strange stone。
Calandrino went stealing before the other two； and verilie perswaded
himselfe； that he was borne to finde the Helitropium； and looking on
every side about him； hee rejected all other Stones but the blacke；
whereof first he filled his bosome； and afterwards； both his
Pockets。 Then he tooke off his large painting Apron； which he fastened
with his girdle in the manner of a sacke； and that he filled full of
stones likewise。 Yet not so satisfied； he spred abroad his Cloake；
which being also full of stones； hee bound it up carefully； for
feare of loosing the very least of them。 All which Buffalmaco and
Bruno well observing （the day growing on； and hardly they could
reach home by dinner time） according as merrily they had concluded；
and pretending not to see Calandrino； albeit he was not farre from
them： What is become of Calandrino？ saide Buffalmaco。 Bruno gazing
strangely every where about him； as if hee were desirous to finde him；
replyed。 I saw him not long since； for then he was hard by before
us； questionlesse； he hath given us the slippe； is privilie gone
home to dinner； and making starke fooles of us； hath lefte us to picke
up blacke stones； upon the parching plaines of Mugnone。 Well （quoth
Buffalmaco） this is but the tricke of an hollow…hearted friend； and
not such as he protested himselfe to be； to us。 Could any but wee have
bin so sottish； to credit his frivolous perswasions； hoping to finde
any stones of such vertue； and here on the fruitlesse plains of
Mugnone？ No； no； none but we would have beleeved him。
Calandrino （who was close by them） hearing these wordes； and
seeing the whole manner of their wondering behaviour： became
constantly perswaded； that hee had not onely found the precious stone；
but also had some store of them about him； by reason he was so neere
to them； and yet they could not see him； therefore he walked before
them。 Now was his joy beyond all compasse of expression； and being
exceedingly proud of so happy an adventure： did not meane to speake
one word to them； but （heavily laden as hee was） to steale home
faire and softly before them； which indeede he did； leaving them to
follow after； if they would。 Bruno perceiving his intent； said to
Buffalmaco： What remaineth now for us to doe？ Why should not we go
home； as well as hee？ And reason too； replyed Bruno。 It is in vaine to
tarry any longer heere： but I solemnly protest； Calandrino shall no
more make an Asse of me： and were I now as neere him； as not long
since I was； I would give him such a remembrance on the heele with
this Flint stone； as should sticke by him this moneth； to teach him
a lesson for abusing his friends。
Hee threw the stone； and hit him shrewdly on the heele therewith；
but all was one to Calandrino； whatsoever they saide； or did； as
thus they still followed after him。 And although the blow of the stone
was painfull to him； yet he mended his pace so wel as he was able；
in regard of beeing over…loaden with stones； and gave them not one
word all the way； because he tooke himselfe to bee invisible； and
utterly unseene of them。 Buffalmaco taking uppe another Flintstone；
which was indifferent heavie and sharp； said to Bruno。 Seest thou this
Flint？ Casting it from him； he smote Calandrino just in the backe
therewith； saying that Calandrino had bin so neere as I might have hit
him on the backe with the stone。 And thus all the way on the plaine of
Mugnone； they did nothing else but pelt him with stones； even so farre
as the Port of S。 Gall； where they threwe downe what other stones they
had gathered； meaning not to molest him any more； because they had
done enough already。
There they stept before him unto the Port； and acquainted the
Warders with the whole matter； who laughing heartily at the jest；
the better to upholde it； would seeme not to see Calandrino in his
passage by them； but suffered him to go on； sore wearied with his
burthen； and sweating extreamly。 Without resting himselfe in any
place； he came home to his house； which was neere to the corner of the
Milles； Fortune being so favourable to him in the course of this
mockery； that as he passed along the Rivers side； and afterward
through part of the City； he was neither met nor seen by any； in
regard they were all in their houses at dinner。
Calandrino； every minute ready to sinke under his weightie
burthen； entred into his owne house； where （by great ill luck） his
wife； being a comely and very honest woman； and named Monna Trista；
was standing aloft on the stayres head。 She being somewhat angry for
his so long absence； and seeing him come in grunting and groaning；
frowningly said。 I thought that the divell would never let thee come
home； all the whole Citie have dined； and yet wee must remaine without
our dinner。 When Calandrino heard this； and perceived that he was
not invisible to his Wife： full of rage and wroth； hee began to raile；
saying。 Ah thou wicked woman； where art thou？ Thou hast utterly undone
me： but （as I live） I will pay thee soundly for it。 Up the staires
he ascended into a small Parlour； where when he hadde spred all his
burthen of stones on the floore： he ran to his wife； catching frer
by the haire of the head； and throwing her at his feete； giving her so
many spurns and cruel blowes； as shee was not able to moove either
armes or legges； notwithstanding all her teares； and humble
submission。
Now Buffalmaco and Bruno； after they had spent an indifferent while；
with the Warders at the Port in laughter； in a faire and gentle
pace； they followed Calandrino home to his house； and being come to
the doore； they heard the harsh bickering betweene him and his Wife；
and seeming as if they were but newly arrived； they called out alowd
to him。 Calandrino being in a sweate； stamping and raving still at his
Wife： looking forth of the window； entreated them to ascend up to him；
which they did； counterfetting greevous displeasure against him。 Being
come into the roome； which they saw all covered over with stones；
his Wife sitting in a corner； all the haire （well…neere） torne off her
head； her face broken and bleeding； and all her body cruelly beaten；
on the other side； Calandrino standing unbraced and ungirded；
strugling and wallowing； like a man quite out of breath： after a
little pausing； Bruno thus spake。
Why how now Calandrino？ What may the meaning of this matter be？
What； art thou preparing for building； that thou hast provided such
plenty of stones？ How sitteth thy poore wife？ How hast thou misused
her？ Are these the behaviours of a wise or honest man？ Calandrino；
over…spent with travalle； and carrying such an huge burthen of stones；
as also the toylesome beating of his Wife； （but much more impatient
and offended； for that high good Fortune； which he imagined to have
lost：） could not collect his spirits together； to answer them one
ready word； wherefore hee sate fretting like a mad man。 Whereupon；
Buffalmaco thus began to him。 Calan